Coin-controlled apparatus.



' No. 777.402. PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904.

J. 0. COPELAND.

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7., 1904.

N0 MODEL.

6 Ho: 1 .HJ

Nirn SATES Patented December 13, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ODIN-CFONTFIOLLEU AF'WARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,402, dated December 13, 1904.

Application filed J are '7, 1904:. Serial No. 211,513. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1', JAMES C. COPELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pottsville, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Apparatus,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to coin-operated mechanism, and especially to that class known as change-makers? and the object is to provide an improved mechanism for making change which is of simplified construction, eflicient, and certain in delivering a determined number of coins in exchange for a single piece of coin deposited in lieu thereof.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a suitable containing box or casing wherein the improved change-making mechanism is mounted and arranged. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the casing, showing the preferred form of the coin race or chute and the change-making wheel and its lockingpawl. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section of a portion of the casing, wherein is illustrated a coinway leading to a coin-disk released by the deposition of a coin dropped down the coinway.

The mechanism is particularly designed to be associated with a vending apparatus to provide a customer with a commodity at a lixed and determined price, and since it frequently happens that the prospective purchaser not supplied with coins of the exact denomination to effect the purchase the present invention provides the means whereby the customer may deposit a piece of money of a prescribed value and receive the value in change therefor. The mechanism may be disposed or mounted in any convenient position in the easing so as not to interfere with the operation of whatever vending mechanism is used, and the upper end of the coin-race may be positioned adjacent to the coin-operated mechanism of the vending apparatus, so that the coins used by the purchaser may be discharged into the coin-race as additions to those already therein.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the coin-race, made of some suitable sheet metal and of such length and capacity as will lit it for the purpose of contz'tining a desired number of coins, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The coin-race is provided with alining vertical sides, between which the coins are loosely held, so that they will descend without lateral displacement by gravity down the race. The race 1 may be of the form seen in the drawings, having its upper portion or limb inclined downward, and this upper portion terminates at its lower end in a circular portion 2, opening into the upper end of the lower inclined portion or limb, the lower end of which opens through a dischargeslot 3 at the lower end of the casing-wall to the outside. Within and across the casing, adjacent to the discharge-slot 3, is mounted a shaft 4, having on its projecting end outside the casing a crank 5, or any other wellknown device by which the shaft can be rotated. On the shaftt is lixedl y mounted. a star wheel 6, having radial points with concave recesses between them, constituting spaces within which the coins of the race engage. The wheel 6 is located adjacent to the end of the coin-race and is so positioned as to permitone coin to be engaged thereby through the medium of the arms and seats in succession when the wheel is rotated in the direc tion indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. To look the wheel against reverse rotation, a pawl or dog 7 is pivotally supported above the wheel 6 and bears with its lower end against the wheel as it rotates, being normally held in contact by means of a spring 8, arranged adjacent thereto. It will be perceived that when the star-wheel is rotated the points or lingers will successively force the pawl to one side, thus permitting the wheel to turn in one direction; but any tendency or force exerted to turn it in reverse direction will be prevented by the engagement of the pawl with one of the points of the star-wheel. As the coinrace is positioned at an incline, the coins therein will descend by gravity, with the tendency to escape through the discharge-slot or end of the race. The coins, however, will be prevented from escaping .by the starwheel. When it is desired to make change, the mechanism which holds the star-wheel against retation is legitimately unlocked or released, which leaves the star-wheel free to be rotated as may be predetermined by the locking and releasing means.

I have illustrated in Fig. 3 a reliable and simple coin-released mechanism which may be associated with my improved change-making apparatus, and, reference being had to this illustration, 9 designates a coinchute having its top end opening through a coinslot 10. On the shaft 4, in alinement with the slot of the coin-chute, is fixedly mounted a disk 11, formed with a coin-slot 12, into which the coin drops from the chute. In the edge of the disk 11 is a a locking-notch 13, which is engaged by a lug on aspring-actuated detent 1 1, the nose of which projects against a coin lodged in the coin-seat, so that when the requisite coin has been deposited and becomes seated in the coin-seat the detent may be forced out of locked engagement with the disk and the disk and shaft, with the starwheel, may be given a complete revolution. As there are live coin-seats in the star-wheel and each is capable of permitting one coin to pass through the opening 3, a complete revolution of the shaft, with its adjuncts, will discharge five coins.

It is apparent that the device maybe adapted for making change for coins of larger denominations than those herein indicatedfor instance, a larger star-wheel having ten seats therein, so as to make change for a dime, or, if desired, four seats might be provided and twenty-five-cent pieces placed in the coin-race to provide change for a dollar.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a change-making device, an inclined coin-race, a rotatable wheel having radial arms with coin-seats between them to engage the coins in succession, and means to lockthe wheel at the end of one revolution.

2. In a change-making device, a reverselyinclined coin-race down which the coins descend, a rotatable star-wheel at the lower end of the coin-race arranged to engage the coins therein in succession, and means to automatically lock the star-wheel at the end of each revolution.

3. In a change-making device, a coin-holding device wherein the coins are movably held, a rotatable star-wheel to engage and discharge the lowermost coin from the holder, and means to automatically lock the starwheel at the end of each revolution.

4. In a change-making device, a reverselyinclined coin-race consisting of upper and lower portions united at their approaching ends by a circular section, a rotatable starwheel having a determined number of coinseats to engage and discharge the lowermost coins in succession, and means to lock the star-wheel at the end of each complete revo lution.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. COPELAND.

\Vitnesses:

HORACE B. MoGooL, OHAs. HERBRICT. 

